New insurance agent next steps

Passed your exam? Congratulations. Here is what usually comes next. This page is general information only. We do not sell insurance, and we are not paid for any company or service named here.

1. Apply for your license

Passing the exam is one step. You then apply to your state for the license itself. The application, fee and background check differ by state. Our state guides list each step with sources:

2. Get appointed by an insurance company

A license lets you be an insurance producer. To sell a company's policies, that company appoints you. Massachusetts law, for example, says a producer "shall not act as an agent of an insurer unless the insurance producer becomes an appointed agent of that insurer" (M.G.L. c. 175, s. 162S). Each state has its own appointment rules, so ask the company or agency you join how they handle it.

3. Keep your license active with continuing education

Licensed producers take continuing education (CE) courses. NIPR, the national producer licensing database, notes that "Each state sets its own education requirements, including the number of hours and topics," and that even states with licenses that never expire have CE requirements. Check your state's rules before your first renewal.

Sources

M.G.L. c. 175, s. 162S, Massachusetts Legislature (read October 20, 2026)
NIPR, Stay on Track with Continuing Education for Licensing (read October 20, 2026)